Roaming Brit
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets

From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

Picture

On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe, and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions must be made. Illness, family bonds, and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in the life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

Picture

Kuala Lumpur, City of Contrasts!

22/6/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
PictureView of Petronas Towers under construction in 1997.
Darrell and I have been to Kuala Lumpur twice over the 24 years we have been together, firstly in 1997 and a second time in 2001. The difference between each visit couldn't have been more stark. In 1997, I was heading towards a new life in Australia with Darrell, and Malaysia was the ideal stop over on the way to Perth. I really had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the old KL Airport in the capital, but as this was my first foray into Asia, I was expecting some interesting sites and I wasn't disappointed.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, a metropolis rather like London, or any other large urban conurbation. In 1997 this emerging city was still in its infancy, growing precipitately, spreading outwards and upwards; construction was evident everywhere you looked. It had a rather gritty feel, infrastructure was old and antiquated, drains were left open and the smell was often stomach churning. There were very few pavements to walk on safely, and what footpaths existed were poorly constructed, uneven and hazardous; it was actually safer to walk on the roads.

Looking around the city, whilst navigating the streets one was struck by the amount of building work taking place. Tall cranes littered the tropical skyline; from our hotel room at the Ming Court Hotel, I could see at least six within eye shot. I remember thinking to myself at the time, that this was going to be a city to rival Singapore or Hong Kong, and I was delighted to be visiting at the beginning of its journey towards maturity. At times, it did feel like I was staying in a third World country, but then that is what it was. Malaysia's capital was about to come of age and it was apparent in every direction!

Kuala Lumpur, rather like the rest of the region is culturally diverse, the demographic was like nothing I had experienced before, consisting of Malay's, Chinese and Indians. I felt like I was in a melting pot of different customs and traditions, religions and heritage. The distinctiveness was particularly evident in the capital, but rather like central London, this multicultural mix seemed to work well. The eclectic nature of this vibrant and dynamic city was truly electric and made for one of the most memorable experiences of my life, which is probably why I returned again in 2001.

By 2001 Darrell and I had settled in the UK, taking the opportunity to fly once again to our favourite Asian destination. We arrived at a large modern airport, unlike the older terminal we navigated in 1997. There were travellers as far as the eye could see, indicating a change in the trajectory followed by this country. Kuala Lumpur was a city that had metamorphosed, transformed for future generations to enjoy, confident and content with its new outlook, a shining jewel in the orient to rival any of the other metropolitan districts in the region. I was amazed by the change, something I had predicted four years prior.

The underground, monorail and rapid transit system was by now complete and fully integrated into the architecture of Kuala Lumpur. New shopping centres, apartment buildings, highways and skyscrapers were scattered across the city. The Petronas Towers was fully operational, welcoming tourists from all corners of the World. The glass walk way linking the two monumental monoliths delivered amazing views across the skyline, and down below landscaped gardens, fountains and pools offered an escape from the intense searing heat. This was a region that had grown out of all proportion and was now a burgeoning destination of choice.

I visited Kuala Lumpur briefly in 2019, stopping over after a flight from Cambodia. By now the airport was unrecognisable; twenty years of change and rebirth had turned this once tiny outpost in the far east, into a modern mega city, an asphalt jungle at the edge of rain forest, lush tropical scenery and extraordinary wildlife. I have been lucky enough to see just how much this once old colonial city with small imperial traditional buildings, nestled between contemporary modern glass superstructures, has evolved and advanced over time. In many ways I preferred the old fabric of the place, but modernity often overtakes convention in a race for change. This is a city I could quite happily settle in, living a life Darrell and I first dreamed of in 1997. In a future so uncertain today, this may well be our 'tomorrow' home on a bucket list of many; Kuala Lumpur is most certainly our Asian abode for now!



Kuala Lumpur 1997

Kuala Lumpur 2001

Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    51-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my adopted home of Perth, Western Australia.

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

    Submit
    Picture
    Click me & email for more information!
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    30th Anniversary
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Australia-202223
    Bangkok & Chiang Mai 2023
    Bettys-revenge
    Bipolar
    Bipolarcoaster
    Britain
    Bullying
    Business
    Cancer Research
    Cats
    Characters-i-have-known
    Charity
    Charlatan Or Confidant
    Christmas Thoughts
    Claybornes World
    Coming-out-stories
    Cooking
    Coronavirus
    Croatia 2022
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell In The Uk
    Death Of Queen Elizabeth
    Dunbars
    Easy-horse-care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating-facts
    Friends Colleagues
    Gran Alacant
    Guest-bloggers
    Ibs
    Immigration
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    King Charles III
    Lifestyle Break
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    London 2022
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Marmite Watch
    Memories Of Fareham
    Memories Of Home
    Memories-of-home
    Memories Of Portsmouth
    Memories Of Southampton
    Memories Of Spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam Sociopathy
    Penelope-wren
    Photographs-of-hope
    Picante And Marigold
    Pippa
    Pippa And Akira
    Platinum Jubilee
    Postcards From Home
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Remembering Gran Alacant
    Reviewing Gran Alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short Stories From My Youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Taiwan 2024
    Teaching Jamie
    Thailand 2022
    Thailand And Singapore 2025
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Vietnam 2024
    Villa In The Sun
    Visits From Friends
    War In Europe
    Weight Loss & Health
    Year In Review 2015
    Year In Review 2016
    Year In Review 2017
    Year In Review 2018
    Year In Review 2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Year In Review 2021
    Year In Review 2022
    Year In Review 2023
    Year In Review 2024
    Zest

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by realtruthblog
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture


    Instagram
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    A place to call home
    Finally, a place we can call home.  A community of like minded individuals, who used to call Britain home.  Now Spain is our choice, an altogether gentler, happier, sunnier and safer experience!
            Luke Feb 16
    Picture
Picture
Picture

Telephone

+447999663360

Email

[email protected]
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets